Danelle Brown

The number of couple-owned businesses in the country is rising as people choose to make changes about their careers, due to the economy or to work/life balance issues. Both men and women are increasingly curious about the dynamics of working with a spouse. Yet no one teaches this subject in school, and our ancestors’ knowledge ― be they mercantile owners or farmers ― was not passed on. Without fail, when people find out my husband and I run a successful business, they comment, “How do you work with your spouse? I would have killed mine by now!” But who says I haven’t?! No, of course I haven’t, although there were certainly times in the early days when we could have walked away from the business, or our marriage, or both; this is what people fear the most. There are literally millions of businesses which are run by husband and wife teams. Yet many people believe that running a business with a spouse is not possible. Perhaps this is why there is a lack of information for people who want to get help in successfully managing both a marriage and a business. Soulmate Proprietors shows couples how to accomplish this while still enjoying the respect, love and admiration that brought them together in the first place. The book is fun and light-hearted, and provides useful, real-world advice and tips in an easy-to-read format. Numerous featured couples share their misadventures and triumphs, which help readers realize they’re not alone. TRUTH: Glenn Muske, an Oklahoma State University professor who spent six years studying the topic, estimated that 3 million of the 22 million U.S. small businesses in the year 2000 were couple-owned . He and other experts believe the number is even higher today. Another statistic suggests only 5 percent of the “all-in” husband-and-wife-owned businesses can make the partnership work. The odds are not positive. Understandably, this group is desperate for information that will change those odds in their favor. SO WHERE DO YOU GO FOR HELP? Soulmate Proprietors answers the needs of people who are running a business with their spouses (or even thinking about it). Through my own experience and research – often trial and error – and that of other husband-and-wife teams, I’ve gathered relatable anecdotes and practical advice that readers can implement immediately. Whether they’re starting a business, buying an existing one, or want to reach new levels of success with their current co-owned venture, couples will benefit from the book’s up-front knowledge that smoothes what can be a rough path. Written in an easy, humorous style with plenty of examples, the book raises questions to provoke conversations – not arguments – and to help couples make decisions today, before bad habits arise and tensions escalate. REMEMBER – PEOPLE DO THIS EVERY DAY! Men and women can get past their self-doubt – past the fear – of running a business with their spouse. This resource book teaches couples how to address those fears and the inevitable hiccups that occur. Running a business and pursuing their dreams should be fun and exciting, not scary. Millions of couples run businesses together and they do it successfully every day. Soulmate Proprietors is the just wake-up call lucky couples need to turn their business into the next runaway success.